Implementing the Safer Baby Bundle for stillbirth prevention across Queensland maternity services using a modified...

Area of Science:

• Maternal and Fetal Health
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Public Health Initiatives

Background:

• Australia faces a higher stillbirth rate compared to leading high-income nations.
• The Safer Baby Bundle (SBB) is a national strategy to reduce stillbirth by targeting key antenatal care components.
• This study details the implementation of the Safer Baby Bundle Improvement Project (SBBIP) in Queensland.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation of the Safer Baby Bundle Improvement Project (SBBIP) in Queensland.
• To assess the effectiveness of a modified Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BTS) approach in a challenging healthcare environment.
• To identify improvements in antenatal care processes and outcomes related to stillbirth prevention.

Main Methods:

• An 18-month modified BTS Collaborative approach was used across Queensland antenatal services.
• A before-and-after multimethod study design incorporated perinatal data, audits, administrative data, and surveys.
• Interrupted time series (ITS) analyses were employed to compare outcomes pre- and post-implementation.

Main Results:

• The SBB was successfully implemented across services despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Eighty-nine percent of teams actively engaged, with 100% implementing change ideas.
• Improvements were noted in key process and balance measures, while the stillbirth rate remained stable.

Conclusions:

• A modified BTS Collaborative model is effective for large-scale implementation of stillbirth risk reduction strategies.
• This approach is valuable in resource-limited settings with high demand and competing priorities.
• The SBBIP demonstrated successful implementation and positive process improvements in Queensland's antenatal care.